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Tuesday, 31 December 2013

This has been an up and down year, but the one thing that has remained constant for me has of course been this blog. Looking through the year's posts is quite a nostalgic exercise for me, as each one, even when about superficial things like clothes and make-up, has a context I don't always share here.

So here's a favourite photo for each month that reminds me of what's changed - or stayed the same! - as I say goodbye to 2013! Each photo links to the original post.

Monday, 30 December 2013

For a Christmas/New Years Eve party dress, I found myself oddly drawn towards the popular modern bodycon bandage dress from French Connection (you know the one). It's well known for pulling your figure in in all the right places, which I just couldn't resist. I view it as a modern take on a wiggle dress - I think if Marilyn were alive now it could be the kind of thing she'd go for. And although the dress is modern, I think it's possible to create a more classic look with the right accessories...

Most importantly, hair and make-up. I've gone for large curls swept and pinned to the side, with a big flower, teamed with my usual red lips and eyeliner.

Add a nice frame bag...

And borrow the mid-century penchant of matching shoes to things... (in this case to the flower)

Hair flower: Accessorize (old)

Dress: French Connection

Shoes: Limited Collection/Edition, Marks & Spencer

Lipstick: Nars Heat Wave

... And I think this is a nice twist on a very modern dress.

By the way, this dress is my hot tip for fellow petite ladies - whereas on normal height girls this is probably mini-skirt length, as you can see, on the short of us (I'm 5ft 2"), it's decidedly not.

Friday, 13 December 2013

There's a common theme to every hairstyle I ever do - they're a lot quicker and easier than people usually tell me they look. And even though I haven't worn this one myself (well, not in a photo posted on this blog, which is kind of the same thing), I saw it online and wanted to give it a go.

It is a large side roll that weaves around your head - very elegant. And good for parties (tis the season).

I would think you could probably do this on most length hair, from shoulder length on. The longer it gets, the more clips you'll need to use to secure the rolls, but that's the main difference.

You will need:

Hair brush

Lots of kirby grips in similar colour to your hair (probably at least 10 - 2/3 per roll)

Hairspray

Pomade (optional - it helps to create the curls though)

1. Hair down, brushed and given a big side parting

This style will be easiest in terms of rolling your hair if it has a curl to it, but as long as it isn't straightened it should be manageable. Make sure you sweep your hair into a side parting - extreme ones work well with this look.

2. Letting the rolling commence...

This is as tricky as a 'tricky part' gets. This look is created by making many smaller rolls and joining them up to look like one. More on that in a moment. If you have pomade, run a small amount through each section of hair you work on, particularly on the ends, before you roll and it will help the roll keep its shape.

So, take a section of hair about 2" wide and nestle two fingers at just below ear height as in the first picture (closer to ear/head and you'll find it hard to roll). You'll now have a loop of hair with the 'end' hanging over your fingers (left picture). Wind this end round your fingers and tuck the ends in to form a neat circle of hair. Now roll the circle of hair up towards your head and hold it where you want to pin it with the hand that won't be doing the pinning - it's easiest to do this by leaving your two 'holding fingers' inside the roll, but now pressing the hair in place against your head.

3. Pinning the roll

So now you've got your fingers on one hand holding the loop to your head, you just need to pin it. To do this securely, I slide a pin into the middle of the loop - which you can just about see in the left picture. I then slide one from the opposite direction on the other side of the loop. If I can, I overlap the clips slightly to make them even less likely to budge. Now, use your judgement of how loose the loop feels and how neat it looks.

If you need extra hold or have a bit of hair poking out the top, slide as many kirby grips as you need into the top of the loop, against your head. And you'll end up with the picture on the right, hopefully!

4. Roll and repeat!

Now, all there is to do is repeat the first process with the next roll of a similar size on the side of your head. As you go to pin it, try to get the loop in line with the first one, but slightly lower towards the nape of your neck. Neaten up again with some extra pins if you need to.

5. Just a couple more...

Now do another couple of loops - 3 if you have hair left! - and you should be able to gather it all in and finish approximately halfway round the back of your head.

You can see in my picture on the left that my last roll wasn't the neatest thing, but actually, that's ok. The general look is still quite special.

Thursday, 5 December 2013

Continuing the knitwear theme from my last post, I've been after a stripy knitted dress for a long, long time... And then I found one - but it also had a little something extra... strange star elbow patches.

And I just can't tell if I like them or not. It makes me feel kind of like I have starfish on my elbows.